Why NSW Needs Tougher Sentencing for Car Theft: A Call for Mandatory Minimums

Yesterday, a tragic incident unfolded in New South Wales, leaving a motorcyclist with life-changing injuries. A young offender, behind the wheel of a stolen car, crashed into the motorcyclist, resulting in the amputation of the rider’s foot. This devastating accident brings into sharp focus the deadly consequences of car theft—and it’s time we take a stronger stand against these crimes.

For far too long, we’ve allowed car theft to be treated as a relatively minor crime, particularly when it comes to youth offenders. While rehabilitation is important, it cannot come at the expense of justice for the victims who are left with lifelong consequences. It’s time to get tough on car thieves—adults and youth alike. Introducing mandatory minimum sentences—two years of detention for youth offenders and five years for adults in basic cases—would send a clear message: car theft is a serious crime with serious consequences. For more severe cases, such as those that lead to crashes or injuries, we propose a five-year minimum for youth offenders and a ten-year minimum for adults.